US5886604A - Circuit breaker - Google Patents

Circuit breaker Download PDF

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Publication number
US5886604A
US5886604A US09/025,869 US2586998A US5886604A US 5886604 A US5886604 A US 5886604A US 2586998 A US2586998 A US 2586998A US 5886604 A US5886604 A US 5886604A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
circuit breaker
handle
contact point
iron piece
link
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
US09/025,869
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English (en)
Inventor
Masahiro Kume
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd
AutoNetworks Technologies Ltd
Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd
Original Assignee
Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd
Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd
Harness System Technologies Research Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd, Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd, Harness System Technologies Research Ltd filed Critical Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd
Assigned to SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., HARNESS SYSTEM TECHNOLOGIES RESEARCH, LTD. reassignment SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: KUME, MASAHIRO
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US5886604A publication Critical patent/US5886604A/en
Assigned to AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD. reassignment AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HARNESS SYSTEM TECHNOLOGIES RESEARCH, LTD.
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
    • H01H71/10—Operating or release mechanisms
    • H01H71/1054—Means for avoiding unauthorised release
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
    • H01H71/10—Operating or release mechanisms
    • H01H71/50—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release
    • H01H71/52—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release actuated by lever
    • H01H71/528—Manual reset mechanisms which may be also used for manual release actuated by lever comprising a toggle or collapsible link between handle and contact arm, e.g. sear pin mechanism

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a circuit breaker having superior shock and vibration resistance.
  • a circuit breaker having the following configuration has already been proposed (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei-1-166435). Specifically, when a handle 1 is pivoted from an off (OFF) position to an on (ON) position, a circuit is closed by bringing a movable contact point into contact with a fixed contact point via a lever mechanism A. Further, the lever mechanism A and the handle 1 are constrained in the ON position. In contrast, when a movable iron piece 3 is attracted to an electromagnetic trip coil 2 by application of a signal such as an overcurrent to the electromagnetic coil 2, the lever mechanism A is released from the constrained state, and the movable contact point is separated from the fixed contact point, thereby opening the circuit. Further, the handle 1 returns to the OFF position in conjunction with the lever mechanism A.
  • the movable iron piece 3 moves in the direction-in which it is supposed to be attracted to the coil-due to abnormal physical shock or vibration, whereby the lever mechanism A is accidentally released from a constrained state.
  • the movable contact point is separated from the fixed contact point, thereby resulting in a risk of the circuit breaker erroneously carrying out tripping action.
  • the handle 1 itself is pivoted from the ON position to the OFF position due to abnormal physical shock or vibration. Accordingly, there may arise a risk of the circuit breaker erroneously causing a tripping operation, as in the foregoing case.
  • the present invention has been conceived to solve the aforementioned drawback in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a circuit breaker having superior shock and vibration resistance.
  • the present invention provides a circuit breaker in which when a handle is pivoted from an off position to an on position, a circuit is closed by bringing a movable contact point into contact with a fixed contact point via lever mechanisms, and the lever mechanisms and the handle are constrained in the on position, whereas when a movable iron piece is attracted to an electromagnetic trip coil by application of power to the electromagnetic coil, the lever mechanisms are released from the constrained state, and the movable contact point is separated from the fixed contact point, thereby opening the circuit, and the handle returns to the off position in conjunction with the lever mechanisms
  • the circuit breaker also including:
  • FIG. 1 is a front view showing an initial state of a circuit breaker according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 2A is a front view showing a circuit breaker which is in a set condition.
  • FIG. 2B is an enlarged view showing the principal elements of the circuit breaker shown in FIG. 2A.
  • FIG. 3A is a front view showing a circuit breaker which is in a broken condition.
  • FIG. 3B is an enlarged view showing the principal elements of the circuit breaker shown in FIG. 3A.
  • FIG. 4 shows a modification of the lock member, wherein FIG. 4A is a front view showing the lock member when in an initial state, and FIG. 4B is a front view showing the lock member when in a set condition.
  • FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing an electromagnetic coil.
  • FIG. 6 is a front view showing an existing circuit breaker.
  • the lever mechanisms and the handle are constrained in the on position. In this state, no power is applied to the electromagnetic trip coil. However, power is applied to the electromagnetic coil for holding purpose, so that the movable iron piece is held in the non-attraction position.
  • the movable iron piece is firmly held in the non-attraction position by means of the electromagnetic coil for holding purpose, the movable iron piece is prevented from moving in the attracting direction due to abnormal physical shock or vibration without the need of a spring used for the purpose of retaining the movable iron piece in the non-attraction position.
  • a lock member for constraining the handle in the on position is provided on a housing, thereby preventing pivoting of the handle itself to the off position which would otherwise be caused by abnormal physical shock or vibration.
  • a circuit breaker 5 is provided with a housing 6.
  • a handle 8 is provided in upper internal space of the housing 6 and is supported by a handle shaft 7 mounted on the internal side wall of the housing 6 so as to be pivotal.
  • the handle 8 is forced so as to pivot to the leftward direction designated by "a” (or toward the off position) by means of a spring (not shown).
  • a movable contact point 10 is supported by a contact point shaft 9 mounted on the internal side wall of the housing 6 so as to be vertically pivotable and slightly movable.
  • the contact point 10 is pivoted upwardly (see FIGS. 1 and 3A)
  • the contact point is separated from a fixed contact point 11 provided on the internal bottom wall of the housing 6, thereby turning off the circuit breaker.
  • the contact point 10 is pivoted downwardly (see FIG. 2A)
  • the contact point comes into contact with the fixed contact point 11, thereby turning on the circuit breaker.
  • the movable contact point 10 is forced in the direction-in which it is upwardly pivoted (or toward the off position) by means of a spring (not shown).
  • An electromagnetic trip coil 13 is mounted on the internal side wall of the housing 6, and an inverted L-shaped movable iron piece 15 is supported at the side of the electromagnetic trip coil 13 in such a way as to be vertically pivotable by means of an iron piece shaft 14 mounted on the internal side wall of the housing 6.
  • an upper arm 15a is pivotally attracted to an internal iron core 13a of the electromagnetic trip coil 13.
  • the upper arm 15a is forced in an upward pivotal direction designated by "c" by means of a spring (not shown).
  • An electromagnetic coil 16 for holding purpose is mounted on the internal side wall of the housing 6 in a position above the electromagnetic trip coil 13.
  • the upper arm 15a of the movable iron piece 15 forced in the upward pivotal direction "c" is attracted to and retained in an upward pivotal position by the electromagnetic coil 16.
  • An upper portion of a C-shaped first link 19 is joined to a lower portion of the handle 8 so as to be pivotal by means of a first link shaft 18.
  • a lower portion of an I-shaped second link 21 is joined to an intermediate portion of the movable contact point 10 so as to be pivotal by means of a second link shaft 20.
  • a lower portion of the first link 19 and the intermediate portion of the second link 21 are joined together so as to be pivotal by means of a third link shaft 23.
  • the second link 21 is forced in a leftward pivotal direction designated by "d" by means of a spring (not shown).
  • a lock pin 21a is provided at an upper portion of the second link 21, and the first link shaft 18 is joined to an upper portion of the circular-arc-shaped cam lever 22 together with an upper portion of the first link 19 in such a way that the upper portions of the cam lever 22 and the first link 19 are pivotal.
  • a lock recess 22c (see FIG. 3A) is formed between the circular-arc-shaped section 22a and the cam 22b of the cam lever 22.
  • a lock pin 21a of the second link 21 which travels along the internal edge of the circular-arc-shaped section 22a engages with the lock recess 22c from above, thereby temporarily constraining the second link 21 in the substantially-vertical leftward pivotal position.
  • the intermediate portion of the striker bar 24 is supported on the intermediate portion of the first link 19 in such a way as to be pivotal by means of a bar shaft 25 integrally formed with the striker bar 24.
  • a lower portion 24a of the striker bar 24 (an upper portion of the striker bar 24 is omitted from the drawing) approaches and becomes opposite to a lower arm 15b of the movable iron piece 15 whose upper arm 15a is retained in the upward pivotal position by means of the electromagnetic coil 16.
  • the striker bar 24 is forced in a rightward pivotal direction by means of a spring (not shown).
  • a top-flat semicircular shear pin 25a is integrally formed with the bar shaft 24 of the striker bar 24.
  • the cam 22b of the cam lever 22 is constrained by a shoulder 25b of the shear pin 25a, whereby the cam lever 22 is temporarily held so as not to pivot in the leftward direction.
  • a lock member 26 formed into the shape of a leaf spring is mounted on the upper outside of the housing 6.
  • the lock member 26 holds the handle 8 in the rightward pivotal position (i.e., the on position).
  • FIG. 5 is a control circuit of the circuit breaker 5, and a trip relay 30 comprises a coil 30a, a normally-open contact point "a" 30b, and a normally-close contact point “b” 30c. Further, a relay 31 for retaining purpose comprises a coil 31a and a normally-open contact point "a" 31b.
  • a semiconductor switch 32 is connected to the coil 30a of the trip relay 30 and is controlled between an on state and an off state by means of a control signal output from a gate 32a.
  • Reference numerals 33 and 35 designate external switches, and reference numerals 34a to 34d designate power sources.
  • the cam lever 22 whose lock recess 22c is engaged with the lock pin 21a of the second link 21 is rotated right about the handle shaft 7 and pivots right on the first link shaft 18 in association with the rightward pivotal movement of the handle 8 and the second link 21.
  • the cam 22b is constrained by the shoulder 25b of the shear pin 25a of the bar shaft 25 of the striker bar 24, so that the cam lever 22 is temporarily retained so as not to pivot in the leftward direction.
  • the lower portion 24a of the striker bar 24 supported on the first link 19 by the bar shaft 25 approaches and becomes opposite to the lower arm 15b.
  • the handle 8 is constrained in the on position by means of the lock member 26, and hence the handle 8 itself is prevented from pivoting to the off position due to abnormal physical shock or vibration. Therefore, there is no risk of the circuit breaker 5 erroneously performing tripping action. If the circuit breaker employs the electromagnetic coil 16 together with the lock member, the reliability of the circuit breaker is improved further.
  • the movable iron piece 15 is pivoted left, and the lower arm 15b pivots the lower portion 24a of the striker bar 24 in the leftward direction. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3B, the cam 22b of the cam lever 22 is released from the shoulder 25b of the shear pin 25a, and the cam lever 22 is pivoted leftward by means of spring force, to thereby disengage the lock pin 21a from the lock recess 22c.
  • the second link 21 is pivoted right by means of spring force, and the movable contact point 10 is upwardly pivoted by spring force. As a result, the movable contact point 10 is separated from the fixed contact point 11, thereby opening the circuit 17.
  • a leaf-shaped lock member 26 made of synthetic resin may be supported on an upper portion of the handle 8 so as to be vertically pivotal by means of a pin 28 as shown in FIG. 4A.
  • a lock recess 6a is formed in the upper external portion of the housing 6 in such a way that a pawl 26a of the lock member 26 is locked when the handle 8 is pivoted right.
  • the handle 8 may be constrained in the rightward pivotal position.
  • the external switch 33 when the external switch 33 is turned on in association with the actuation of the ignition switch, the external switch 33 can be turned on by actuation of the ignition switch. As a result, the external switch 33 can be accurately turned on only when a circuit-breaking operation is required.
  • the circuit breaker according to the present invention when the handle is actuated and pivoted to the on position from the off position to thereby close the circuit, power is applied to the electromagnetic coil for holding purpose, so that the movable iron piece is firmly held in the no-attraction position. Accordingly, the movable iron piece is prevented from moving in attracting direction due to abnormal physical shock or vibration without provision of a spring used for the purpose of firmly holding the movable iron piece in the non-attraction position (or even in a case where the pivotal spring force exerted on the movable iron piece toward the non-attraction position is weak), thereby eliminating the risk of the circuit breaker erroneously performing tripping action. Therefore, the breaking action of the circuit breaker becomes more stable, resulting in improvement in reliability of the circuit breaker.
  • the lock member for constraining the handle in the on position is provided on the housing, the handle itself is prevented from pivoting to the off position due to abnormal physical shock or vibration. Similarly, there is no risk of the circuit breaker erroneously performing tripping action. Hence, if the circuit breaker employs the electromagnetic coil for holding purpose together with the lock member, the reliability of the circuit breaker is improved further.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Breakers (AREA)
US09/025,869 1997-02-20 1998-02-19 Circuit breaker Expired - Fee Related US5886604A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP9-36042 1997-02-20
JP03604297A JP3290088B2 (ja) 1997-02-20 1997-02-20 回路遮断器

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US5886604A true US5886604A (en) 1999-03-23

Family

ID=12458663

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/025,869 Expired - Fee Related US5886604A (en) 1997-02-20 1998-02-19 Circuit breaker

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US5886604A (ja)
EP (1) EP0860843B1 (ja)
JP (1) JP3290088B2 (ja)
DE (1) DE69802853T2 (ja)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20040027217A1 (en) * 2000-03-08 2004-02-12 Hidetaka Fujita Circuit breaker
US20130162378A1 (en) * 2011-12-22 2013-06-27 Andre Borgwardt Power circuit breaker
US20140354380A1 (en) * 2012-08-29 2014-12-04 Michael Fasano Remote Operated Circuit Breaker
CN109519072A (zh) * 2018-12-25 2019-03-26 江苏国光信息产业股份有限公司 一种具有机械式自锁平推闸门的信封机头装置

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP5366857B2 (ja) * 2010-02-22 2013-12-11 三菱電機株式会社 回路遮断器
KR102091533B1 (ko) * 2016-08-18 2020-03-20 현대일렉트릭앤에너지시스템(주) 회로차단기
CN106952790B (zh) * 2017-05-10 2019-04-12 中欧电气有限公司 一种断路器自锁保护机构

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2443991A (en) * 1947-01-20 1948-06-22 Weber Dental Mfg Co Relay
JPH01166435A (ja) * 1987-12-23 1989-06-30 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd 回路遮断器の電磁装置
US5468925A (en) * 1994-04-21 1995-11-21 Mohsen; Jafar Enclosure for an electrical switch
US5684443A (en) * 1995-12-21 1997-11-04 Philips Electronics North America Corporation False-trip-resistant circuit breaker

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH161679A (de) * 1932-03-13 1933-05-15 Oerlikon Maschf Uberstromschalter für Gleichstrom.
DE1102252B (de) * 1959-07-23 1961-03-16 Licentia Gmbh Schnellschalter mit Schlaganker
DE1195856B (de) * 1962-04-11 1965-07-01 Siemens Ag Selbstschalter mit Kurzschlussausloesung
US4013926A (en) * 1975-07-11 1977-03-22 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Circuit breaker with improved trip actuator and undervoltage release mechanism
US5486660A (en) * 1994-06-15 1996-01-23 Carlingswitch, Inc. Reset only rocker guard for split case circuit breaker

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2443991A (en) * 1947-01-20 1948-06-22 Weber Dental Mfg Co Relay
JPH01166435A (ja) * 1987-12-23 1989-06-30 Matsushita Electric Works Ltd 回路遮断器の電磁装置
US5468925A (en) * 1994-04-21 1995-11-21 Mohsen; Jafar Enclosure for an electrical switch
US5684443A (en) * 1995-12-21 1997-11-04 Philips Electronics North America Corporation False-trip-resistant circuit breaker

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20040027217A1 (en) * 2000-03-08 2004-02-12 Hidetaka Fujita Circuit breaker
US6774750B2 (en) * 2000-03-08 2004-08-10 Hitachi, Ltd. Circuit breaker
US6900712B2 (en) 2000-03-08 2005-05-31 Hitachi, Ltd. Circuit breaker
US20130162378A1 (en) * 2011-12-22 2013-06-27 Andre Borgwardt Power circuit breaker
US8907751B2 (en) * 2011-12-22 2014-12-09 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Power circuit breaker
US20140354380A1 (en) * 2012-08-29 2014-12-04 Michael Fasano Remote Operated Circuit Breaker
US9384931B2 (en) * 2012-08-29 2016-07-05 Carling Technologies, Inc. Remote operated circuit breaker
US9799476B2 (en) * 2012-08-29 2017-10-24 Carling Technologies, Inc. Remote operated circuit breaker
CN109519072A (zh) * 2018-12-25 2019-03-26 江苏国光信息产业股份有限公司 一种具有机械式自锁平推闸门的信封机头装置
CN109519072B (zh) * 2018-12-25 2024-02-20 江苏国光信息产业股份有限公司 一种具有机械式自锁平推闸门的信封机头装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0860843B1 (en) 2001-12-12
EP0860843A2 (en) 1998-08-26
DE69802853T2 (de) 2002-06-13
JP3290088B2 (ja) 2002-06-10
EP0860843A3 (en) 1999-04-21
JPH10233152A (ja) 1998-09-02
DE69802853D1 (de) 2002-01-24

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AS Assignment

Owner name: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., JAPAN

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